Oshawa Between Wetlands, the Ontario Shore and Museums

Oshawa brings together a variety of discoveries: in the southeast of the city lies the provincially significant Second Marsh wetland, a publicly accessible section of the Waterfront Trail runs along Lake Ontario, and museums explore subjects including automotive history and historical heritage. This gives you a clear question to consider when planning your vacation: would you like to experience nature by the water, discover culture, or make both a focus of your stay?

Wetlands and shoreline as nature experiences

At Oshawa Second Marsh, publicly accessible bridges, observation towers and boardwalks provide access to the wetland. The different structures offer various ways to move through the area and take in the landscape. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, the marsh is a destination in its own right on your trip to Oshawa; it offers a different kind of visit from the city’s museums.

Another option is the section of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail in Oshawa. It follows the shore of Lake Ontario and is open to the public. If you enjoy including a waterside route in your daily plans while on vacation, you can choose this stretch of shoreline as a nature experience. You can think of Second Marsh and the Waterfront Trail as appealing to different interests: the wetland on the one hand, and the path along the lake on the other.

Automotive history and distinctive collections

In Oshawa’s historic centre, the Canadian Automotive Museum has preserved and shared the history of Canada’s automotive industry since 1963. Its collection spans a remarkable range: from a tribute to the 1897 Fossmobile to a 2008 electric ZENN. These two reference points give an impression of the span of time visitors can explore there.

The museum offers programs for all ages throughout the year, including tours, driving events and lectures. For families with different interests in cars, this mix offers several ways to engage with the subject. These formats offer different ways to explore Canadian automotive history.

The Canadian Tank Museum offers a different kind of visit. Tours are available there by private arrangement for school classes, Canadian Armed Forces units, corporate groups and many other organizations. If you are interested in visiting, making arrangements in advance is part of the planning. This offering differs from Oshawa’s general museum experiences.

Historic homes and guided visits

The Oshawa Museum comprises three restored 19th-century homes: Henry House, Robinson House and Guy House. During opening hours, tours are available without advance registration. This is useful to know when planning your visit: you can schedule a museum visit during opening hours without booking a tour in advance.

At Parkwood National Historic Site, tours take visitors through luxurious interiors featuring architecture of national significance. Original furnishings, works of art and artifacts are on display. If you are especially interested in architecture and designed interiors, this visit offers a different way to experience Oshawa than the automotive collections or the wetland.

Which stay suits your interests?

When choosing a vacation rental in Oshawa, you can start with the experiences that matter most to your travel group. Nature by the water, automotive history and historic homes each offer a distinct focus. If you are travelling with children, you can also consider the Canadian Automotive Museum’s programs for all ages; tours at the Canadian Tank Museum, by contrast, are expressly for groups by private arrangement. This way, you can base your choice of Oshawa on your shared interests without trying to fit every activity into a single type of visit.

More place names to explore: Scugog, Pickering, Hampton, Clarington, Ajax, Whitby, Beaverton and Newcastle.

For the broader travel overview: Regional Municipality Of Durham.